I had a Dexa on saturday and the tech told me that she wasn't suppose to tell me but she knew I was a nurse so she showed me that I am in full blown Osteopenia... I am a long term prednisone user and a status post Gastric bypass patient so My absorption is not like others....
I am scared and nervous... I am not yet 50. Close... but no cigar...
I am faithful with my calcium. I won't officially get my results until november at my next Rheumy appt. Unless she calls me. So my Question is does some of this stuff get reversed?
I am switching my calcium to liquid. I know that I will absorb it better. I am faithful with all my vitamins. But I worry about all these damn pain meds and things.
Any suggestions..
Hi Angel. I had one a few months ago (first time) and the tech told me was full blown in my spine and 50% in hips. Well, I already have an agressive case of RA, so didn't upset me in the least to hear this news. I take fosomax once a week. I am 54, by the way. My mom is 80 and she has it bad, but she has improved the past two years since taking her fosomax. That's all I can offer. But I'm sure someone else will be along with more info. I wouldn't fret. But I wouldn't go picking up heavy items either, right now.I'm supposed to have another one later this year and my doctor told me if my levels had changed much I would add another medication in there with it. We'll see.
I have lots of pain my my hips....but they say that's due to RA. They say this osto stuff is silent; but to be careful because even with just osteopenia you are more likely to get fractures in the event of a fall....not just in your hips either. Any bone.
Best of Luck to you. We're glad you're here with us.
GOOD MORNING
I have a dexa scan done every 18 months and the first one I had in 2002 showed some osteopinia. I was advised to up my calcium intake from 1200 to 1500, which I did and the 2004 dexa scan showed some improvement. To high of calcium can cause other medical problems, so always ask health professionals for their advise before adding extra calcium. Getting the calcium to be absorbed is another problem and taking it the liquid form is better at being absorbed, also eating it in a soft form is good too. I love Viactive' yummy chocolate mint flavor, right after dinner and in the morning the orange flavor goes with my orange juice.
They also have new drugs for those who suffer from osteopinia and osteoporosis
BONIVA is a once a month medication
http://www.4boniva.com/Default.asp?c=1050
...and one of my doctors had mention that they have another new drug for these conditions but I can't at the moment remember it's name. It is taking by injection and only 2 times a year. I will look for the information and and when I find it I will post it on the board.
We have to be so careful about our bones because some of the drugs we take, sure will put a hurting on them...
Hope everyone is having a pain free day...
Toni
In my last post I mentioned a new drug for Osteoporosis and possibly for osteopinia.
Like I said, one of my Doctors have mentioned this drug to me and ask if I was interested in it. At the time I said no because I was already taking so many drugs that I did not want to take any more and since my past Dexa Scan showed some improvement, I told him I would wait on this till I had my new Dexa scan done this October. If the results warrant some intervention than I will try it....(I use a Military Hospital as my Health Care Provider Center, so we may get the new stuff quicker.
Here is the site on that information.
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=5633
Toni
Thanks tony and everyone for your support. I just sorta freeked. I am settled now. I do go to the pain guy on Saturdau and he will most likely give me some suggestions. along with the back xrays.
Doctors, Doctors.... I am so sick and leary of anyof them anymore.
any way thanks...
I will kleep you all in touch.
jugs
Cher